Top News

Google Preps Maps App for Apple Devices — The head-to-head battle between Apple Inc. and Google Inc. in mobile maps is drawing nearer. — Google has distributed a test version of its new mapping app that will work on Apple's iPhones and iPads to some individuals outside the company …

Sharing Tweets just got easier — If you're like me, you probably come across Tweets every day that you'd like to share. They might be funny or include a striking photo. They might be breaking news or feature old news. Of course, you can retweet any of these to your Twitter followers …

Google, Dish Held Talks to Launch Wireless Service — Google Inc. has held talks with satellite-TV provider Dish Network Corp. in recent weeks to partner on a new wireless service that would rival the networks of wireless carriers such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Crooks steal $1.5M in iPads from JFK — Like ‘GoodFellas’ job — It beats waiting in line at an Apple Store. — A pair of brazen crooks punched another hole in the lax JFK security when they stole a trove of new Apple iPad minis — worth $1.5 million — from the same cargo building …

E-commerce 2.0 — We at a16z could not possibly be more bullish on the prospects for e-commerce, and we believe growth is poised to accelerate. — Part of the reason for this is due to competitive market dynamics. As I've blogged before, e-commerce players have substantial cost advantages over their physical competitors.

HP's Todd Bradley: Surface is no competition to us — Todd Bradley, the head of HP's PC business, does not view Microsoft's Surface tablet as a challenge. — “I'd hardly call Surface competition,” Bradley said in an interview with IDG Enterprise. He listed several reasons, “One, very limited distribution.

Pay Another Way: Bitcoin — At WordPress.com, our mission is making publishing democratic — accessible and easy for anyone, anywhere. And while anyone can start a free blog here, not everyone can access upgrades (like going ad-free or enabling custom design) because of limits on traditional payment networks.

Microsoft CEO Ballmer suggests more hardware coming — Microsoft Corp's chief executive said his company would look at more opportunities to build its own devices, after the launch of its Surface tablet last month, potentially bringing the software giant into competition with its hardware partners …

Google's lawyers under siege — Predatory pricing and using its listings to advance its own products are two of the legal issues dogging the search giant — Google is threatened by a “perfect storm” of litigation with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the European Commission …

Goodbye to Daily Deals? Groupon Emphasizes Always-On Deals. — Groupon is rolling out a new deal structure and homepage redesign today that will allow consumers to search and find offers for things they are immediately interested in buying, instead of having to wait for a coupon to arrive in their in-box.

U.S. consumers hesitant to make switch to Windows 8 — Most Windows users in the U.S. know about Windows 8 but few have immediate plans to upgrade to Microsoft's newest operating system. — Customers get a look at products at Microsoft's pop-up store in Manhattan in October.

From signed up to satisfied — Getting new users is easy; keeping them is hard. Join Intercom co-founder Des Traynor as he explains how to bridge the gap between a company's initial traction and sustained success.